Blockade (1938)

In 1936 Spain during the onset of the Spanish Civil War, a Spanish peasant (Henry Fonda) falls in love with a Russian drifter (Madeleine Carroll). But soon both become involved with the Spanish Civil War except they find themselves on opposite sides! Mostly dreadful. In 1938, Hollywood was hardly progressively liberal so they didn't want to step on any toes with a film like this which is clearly propaganda. Propaganda for the right side of course but still propaganda. Fonda is ludicrous as a Spanish peasant, Midwestern twang firmly in place though Carroll is hardly convincing as a Russian. It's pretty heavy handed although Fonda's final "stirring" speech as he directly faces the camera and addresses the audience had me chuckling. Not surprisingly, the film's preachy screenplay received an Oscar nomination as well as Werner Janssen's score. Directed by William Dieterle. With Leo Carrillo providing unwelcome comedy relief, Reginald Denny, Vladimir Sokoloff and John Halliday who overdoes the smarminess as the film's chief villain.